6. Indefinite pronouns

An indefinite pronoun replaces a noun without referring to any person or thing in particular. It is a group of pronouns that are used when the noun is unknown or for our convenience; for example, instead of asking, “Is Anne, Bob, Carrie, Dan or Ellen interested in coming along?”, we can use an indefinite pronoun to make things easier: “Is anyone interested in coming along?” The word anyone is an indefinite pronoun.

The examples here should explain the use of an indefinite pronoun

Someone is knocking the door.

(Someone is an indefinite pronoun and we use it because we are not referring to any particular person such as our mother, a friend or George who is knocking the door.)

Is anybody there?

(Here, a question uses an indefinite pronoun anybody because the person asking the question does not want to know if a definite person is there – a person such as his uncle, friend or Michael. He just wants to know if a person is there.)

Something is burning over there.

(The noun is unknown. We don’t know what thing is burning over there, so we use an indefinite pronoun something.)

There is a fair number of indefinite pronouns, and all of them do not refer specifically to any person or thing. Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural with a few of them that can be both singular and plural. Singular indefinite pronoun subjects take singular verbs and plural indefinite pronoun subjects take plural verbs.

Indefinite Pronouns

Singular

Plural

Singular or Plural

anybody

both

all

everybody

few

any

nobody

many

more

somebody

others

most

anyone

several

none

everyone

some

someone

such

anything

everything

something

another

each

either

little

much

neither

no one

nothing

one

other

Indefinite pronouns that end in –body,–one, and –thing are always singular and they must be matched with singular verbs.

Examples:

There wasn’t anybody in there, so what the strange noise?

Everybody is

waiting to hear the good news.

Nobody wants

to listen to what he has to say.

Somebody has left the socks here.

Anyoneiswelcome to help with washing my car.

Everyone isspeaking but no one is listening.

Someonehas to put the rubbish out.

Is there anything I can eat?

Is everything all right around here?

Something in the kitchen smells strongly of rotten fish.

Either and neither

These two definite pronouns are used as singular.

Examples:

Which of these two boxes is big enough for those things? I think either is big enough.

The police think either of the brothers is the gang leader.

He begs his parents for forgiveness for what he has done, but neither forgives him.

Neither of them wants a divorce for the sake of the children.

Other singular indefinite pronouns.

Examples:

This is her daughter and there is another at home.

Eachof themagreesthat in every friendship there has to be some give-and-take. .

Little isknown about his whereabouts.

Much of what we know about her mysterious disappearance is false.

There is no one in that room, yet I have just heard a voice calling my name.

I have already told you there is nothing wrong with me.

One has to know when to keep quiet and listen.

I'll buy this pair; the other is more expensive.

Plural indefinite pronouns

Examples:

I cannot forget those two fat monkeys, both of which are obviously overfed.

There are few countries left to visit before I die.

Many have detained by the police for questioning.

One of the escaped prisoners was recaptured while two others were still at large.

Several

of the crocodiles

are

believed to have escaped from the crocodile farm.

Indefinite pronouns that are both singular and plural

Examples:

All we know is that the rumours about him are not true.

All were cheering loudly for their team.

There was't any food left when I got there.

She asked if any of us were interested in joining heron a trip.

The police will not answer the reporters' questions until more is known.

More are rescued as the search continues.

Mostof her money isspent on fast food.

Mostof the household contents arecovered by an insurance policy.

You want some more soup, but there is none left.

None of my uncles is/are as skinny as my father.

Someof them justdon'tknow what they are talking about.

Somemore butter isneeded to make the cake.

If such is the plan, we have to start preparing straightaway.

It such are their positions, it is unlikely they will reach an agreement.